JNF Celebrates Most Successful National Conference Yet in Orlando

October 24, 2012 – Orlando, FL – Jewish National Fund (JNF) concluded its most successful National Conference to date in Orlando, attracting a record number of attendees from all across the country.

At the closing plenary on Monday morning, Yossi Abramowitz, co-founder of Arava Power company, announced that his company will break ground on three new solar fields this December. The new solar fields will be located at Kibbutzim Yotvatah, Grofit, and Elifaz in the Arava Desert.

“The conference really hit home with a lot of people in showcasing our mission and what we’re doing,” said National Conference co-chair Bruce Gould. “It was a rousing success, in terms of the quality of the speakers, the quality of the presentation, and the attendance. And you couldn’t ask for better weather.”

"It was absolutely fantastic,” agreed National Conference co-chair Louise Dabrow. “Everyone came away feeling energized, well-informed, and interested. The response was tremendous. The conference reaffirmed each and everyone’s commitment to our voice in Israel.”

Held for the first time in Orlando, the two-day conference featured a packed agenda of informative panels and engaging speakers, including Gilad Erdan, Minister of Environmental Protection; Efi Stenzler, KKL World Chairman; JNF Chairman of the Board Ronald Lauder; "The Shifting Sands of Power in the Middle East," a conversation with Steve Linde, Editor in Chief of The Jerusalem Post and Chemi Shalev, U.S. Editor and New York Correspondent for Haaretz; and an absorbing presentation called "Start Up Nation Live," featuring Abramowitz; Michael Granoff, Head of Oil Independence Policies, Better Place; and Roni Einav, Chairman, Einav Hi-Tec Assets. At Sunday’s Negev Nights gala, Broadway and television stars Ilana Levine and Dominic Fumusa served as the Masters of Ceremonies, and the crowd enjoyed the comedy of Joel Chasnoff.

“This year’s conference was one of our best,” said JNF President Stanley Chesley. “We changed the panel format from conferences of years past and got a very positive response. Thanks to our National Conference co-chairs Bruce Gould and Louise Dabrow, and the hard work of our professional staff and lay leaders, we were able to illustrate JNF’s vision for the land of Israel.”

Go to jnf.org/nc to see pictures and videos from the conference. For more information, please contact Nicki Brower at 561.447.9337 x874 or nbrower@jnf.org.

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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.

JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.

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